G - Physics – 21 – C
Patent
G - Physics
21
C
359/67, 359/73
G21C 3/02 (2006.01) G21C 3/16 (2006.01)
Patent
CA 1079872
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention is directed to an axially alignable nuclear fuel pellet of the type stacked in end-to-end relationship within a tubular cladding. Experience has shown that fuel cladding failures can occur at pellet inter- face locations due to mechanical interaction between misaligned fuel pellets and the cladding. Mechanical interaction between the cladding and the fuel pellets loads the cladding and causes increased cladding stresses. Nuclear fuel pellets constructed according to the invention are provided with an end structure that increases plastic deformation of the pellets at the interface between pellets so that lower align- ment forces are required to straighten axially misaligned pellets. Plastic deformation of the pellet ends results in less interaction between the cladding and the fuel pellets and significantly lowers cladding stresses. The geometry of pellets constructed according to the invention also reduces alignment forces required to straighten fuel pellets that are tilted within the cladding. Plastic deformation of the pellets at the pellet interfaces in both axial and transverse direc- tions is increased by providing pellets with at least one end face having a centrally-disposed raised area of generally convex shape so that the mean temperature and shear stress of the contact area is much higher than that of prior art pellets. Fuel pellets constructed according to the inven- tion may be provided with one end having a centrally- disposed raised area and the opposite end flat or the opposite end may also be provided with a centrally-disposed raised area, or the opposite end may be provided with a centrally-disposed depression having a depth less than the height of the raised area of an adjacent pellet.
292240
Johansson Eric B.
Klahn Dale H.
Marlowe Mickey O.
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